Let's face it. We live in a world about "Me." No, not "me"...you "me." Got it? Just stop and think about it for a second. Everything we do is oftentimes centered around our comfort, our pleasure, our happiness. Not that comfort, pleasure, and happiness are bad, but what if we were missing out on so much more because we thought we were reaching our limits with what we could gain for ourselves? Since our topic this week again is friendship...lets use that as an example. When I was a teen, I heard numerous talks on friendship. Most of those dealt with the type of friends I was surrounding myself (there is that word again- "my/me") with. I was told I needed friends who would be loyal to me. Friends who would be kind, and encouraging. The list goes on and on. Now I don't want you to think that having friends who are loyal, kind, and encouraging are bad. We need these people in our lives, hopefully supporting us in our relationships with Jesus.
But what if we turned the focus to others (no more "me"). What if, when talking about friendship, we talked about our loyalty to others, our kindness to other, and our encouragement to others?
Alot of us could say that we are loyal, kind, and encouraging friends to others. Good. Lets take it one step further though...who are those friends you are loyal, kind, and encouraging to? Do they look like you? Act like you? Are they popular like you? Into the same stuff as you?
Again, its not bad to have these friendships...it's good to share common bonds with others. But can we be real and honest for a second...are we into these friendships, because they can offer us something in return...something for "me" (uh-oh, there it is again).
Here is my point: what if greater joy and fulfillment in friendship came when we loved others...others who weren't already loyal to us, aren't necessarily kind to us first, or even who don't encourage us. Those who aren't on the same level as us (talent, money, smarts, etc...).
What if we followed in Jesus' footsteps and loved those around us...not because they could give us something in return or make us look good, but simply because we understand that true joy...even in teen friendships, comes from loving others like Jesus loves us. That is Gospel-centered friendship.
Use these questions below, to help you think through your approach to friendship this week.
1. Read Luke 6:27-36.
- How does Jesus define how we should view others? Give or Take? How do you define how you view others? Do you desire to give or to take when it comes to your friendships?
2. Re-read verses 32-36- Jesus speaks about giving without expecting anything in return.
* Is this hard for you?
* When have you given without getting anything in return? How did it make you feel?
3. Re-read verse 36.
- How important is our understanding of God's mercy to us, in our understanding of how to be merciful to others?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 10:32-11:1
- Paul speaks about following his example of seeking other's good, instead of our own. He want us to follow him and he follows Jesus...what does he means?
5. Think about the environments where you spend most of your time each day (school, work, team, lunch table, etc.) Do you have people in your life/environments that you can be-friend who are different than you?
- What is keeping you from coming along side of them and showing them the love of Christ?
- Do you need to get out of your regular environments and spend more time with people who are different than you?
6. How important is understanding the Gospel to our daily friendships?
Join us Thursday night at 7pm at Matt & Amanda's as we discuss this in depth together!
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